Taps for dancing shoes



May 22, 1956 R. J. ROOT TAPS FOR DANCING SHOES Filed April 19, 1954 2 y J w E m a BY P Q Q. ATTORNEY.

United States Patent TAPS FOR DANCING SHOES Robert J. Root, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application April 19, 1954, Serial No. 423,884

2 Claims. (CI. 36-83) This invention relates to taps for tap dancer's shoes.

Conventional taps now in general use are usually tapered and present inclined outer surfaces, being made of thin metal or other material and of a size such that but two taps are used on each shoe, one on the toe and the other on the heel.

Due to the thin and tapered construction of these taps, but very shallow counterbored holes for countersinking the fastening screws are possible, with the result that little or no adjustment of the screws can be effected for the purpose of permitting relative movement between the taps and the shoe, for producing varied sound elfects. The screws either work loose and release the taps or project objectionably from the taps when attempts are made to efiect the desired adjustment of the screws.

The tapered formation is not conducive to the desired balance and ease of dancing, especially with beginners. Moreover, these taps will wear readily and are not subject to being adjusted and repositioned to compensate for such wear, but must be replaced. Furthermore, these taps due to their large size are not subject to use on shoes of all sizes and therefore must he made in many different sizes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved tap which will eliminate the objections heretofore encountered in the use of conventional taps and at the same time lend itself to a new and advantageous arrangement of a plurality thereof on the toe portions of each dancing shoe.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tap such as described which readily may be adjusted to obtain a wide variety of sound effects while maintaining a reliable fastening of the tap to the shoe.

It is an important object hereof to provide a tap of such construction and small size that a plurality thereof may be attached to the toe of a shoe of the smallest size as well as to a shoe of the largest size, in a manner assuring that the desired sound elfects may be produced by individual adjustment of the taps as well as by individual or simultaneous tapping thereof on the floor or dancing surface, at the option of the particular dancer.

It is a further object hereof to provide a tap such as described which will provide for versatile tap dancing, with consummate ease and good balance when, for example, three of such taps are arranged in a triangular formation on the toe portion and a single tap is afiixed on the heel of each shoe.

It is another object hereof to provide a tap such as described which is made of solid metal or hard wood of a substantially uniform thickness greater than heretofore used in taps, whereby relatively deep counterbored screw holes may be formed therein with the result that the fastening screws may be adjusted over a wide range to permit the taps to produce a wide variety of different sound efiects.

A further object hereof is the provision of a tap such as described which provides a substantially flat tapping shoe;

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surface for contacting the dancing floor, thereby assuring good balance, ease of dancing and reducing the wear which has been occasioned with taps having inclined or tapered surfaces.

An additional object hereof is the provision of a tap such as described which readily and easily may be turned around and repositioned as to the spacing thereof to compensate for wear or to be disposed in positions best suited to the particular dancer.

It is another object hereof to provide a tap such as described which may be made in various shapes as desired provided it is of such small size and such uniform thickness as to permit of the use of a plurality thereof on the toe portion of each shoe, and to provide for counterbored screw holes of a depth which will permit of adjustment of the taps over a wide range.

This invention possesses many other advantages and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of several embodiments of the invention. For this purpose there are shown two forms in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. These forms will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a bottom plan view of a dancing shoe to which are applied taps embodying the present invention in an arrangement which is a novel feature of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a tap embodying the present invention;

Fig. 4 shows a modified form of the taps as applied to a Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the taps shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. l, 7 designates the bottom of a dancing shoe, to the toe and heel of which are attached taps 8 made and arranged in accordance with this invention. It has been found that when three of the taps 8 are arranged in a triangular formation on the toe with one nearer to the tip of the toe and the others on opposite sides of the foremost tap and rearwardly thereof, all as shown in Fig. 1, excellent balance, ease of dancing and the desired varied sound effects may be achieved in a particularly advantageous manner. This arrangement together with the particular construction of the taps constitute the present invention although it should be understood that the particular construction of the taps will provide advantages over taps as heretofore made in any arrangement of the taps other than the three-at-the-toe and the one-at-the-heel arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

As it is desired that a plurality of taps instead of a single tap, be attached to the toe of each shoe, and that each tap be subject to adjustment relative to the shoe as well as selectively tapped, in dancing, to provide for a wide variety of sound elfects, each tap embodying the present invention is made of comparatively small size and uniform shape, but of a solid thickness greater than usual in taps whereby deeply counterbored screw holes 9 may be formed therein.

As shown in Figs. 1-3, each tap 8 is solid and made of metal in substantially square form, with somewhat rounded corners 8a. The counterbored holes 9 having conical shoulders 9a at the inner ends of the counterbores, are arranged in a square pattern with each hole adjacent a rounded corner. The counterbored portion of each hole has a depth greater than half the thickness of the tap as symmetrical .form and of such small size that two or more lthereofniay bearranged on thetoe of a shoe of .smallsize or a large size :shoe, with .the'tapsspaced as desired to suit the particular dancer.

As shown .in Fig. 2, the-screws 10 areapplied through the counterbored holes 9.so as ttosecurelyjhold eachtap in place with the conicallieadso'f the screws disposed deeply within the .coun'terbores of the holes opposite .or against the conical shoulders 9a so as to "have ample room while countersunk .in the .-holes .for adjustmentofthe screws .over

.a wide range to provide a wide variety of :sound effects without loosening-the screws to the extent that the taps are likely to dropofiorbeknocked oil. In this connection it should be .noted that the width and depth of the screw heads as well as .thelength .of .thesorewsare such in relation to the thickness of the tap and the depth of the .enlarged portions .of the counterbored holes 9., thatthescrews maybe axially adjustedoversa wide range whilemaintaining a secure connection withthe shoe and maintaining the heads countersunkin the holes 9.

T he substantially leveland flat inner and outer surfaces of the solid taps assure that the dancer will have the desired balance] The-outer substantially .level and fiat surfaces are not as conducive to objectionable wear as the inclined or tapered surfaces formed on conventional taps. However, 'in case of wear, the taps 8 readily may be .repositioned as desired to compensate for such wear.

The solidconsctruction and the shape of the taps makes it possible to form them of hard wood or any other suitable material according .to the sound effects'desired and to suit the particular dancer. The rounded corners and edges reduce wear and reduce the effort'in dancing.

As shown in Figs. 4, Sand .6, the taps 12 are of the same solid construction and arrangement as .the taps 8 but are made of hard wood and ,of rectangular shape instead of square. Each tap 12 is provided with deeply counterbored holes 13, washers .14 against the shoulders 13a formed by the counterbores, rounded corners 12a and rounded edges 12b. Screws 15 areprovided to fasten the taps 12 to the shoe 16 in the same manner as the taps 8. The washers 14 reinforce the taps and prevent the screw heads from wearing the shoulders at the inner ends of the counterbores. In this form of the tap but two screw holes 13 are provided and each hole is so deeply counterbored that the screw therein may be adjusted over a wide range for the same purpose as in the form of the invention shown in Figs. l3.

It will now be apparent that'the improved taps of this invention will provide for a new tap arrangement on dancing shoes whereby the'dancer may perform with consummate-ease in amore wersatile dancing routine'and with a greater variety of sound efiects than with taps as heretofore made.

I claim:

1. In combination with a dancing shoe; a plurality of taps mounted in spaced relation one to the other in a group on the toe gPOIltiQH of .the shoe; and another tap mounted .on ttheheel-of :the shoe; and individual fastening means for ,said taps countersunk therein and adjustable axially to provide for-variedzmovernentof the tap relative to the shoe to-produce:difierentsoundefiects.

2. In combination with a dancing shoe; a plurality of :taps .rnoun'tedon the-toe portion of the sole :of the-shoe; and another tap :mounted :on .the :heelyone of :said plurality oftaps beingdisposed nearer -to the foremost part of said toe portion; the other of said plurality of taps being disposed one on each side of said foremost tap and rearvWardly spaced therefrom; and individual fastening means for each tap :countersunk therein and adjustable axially :while countersunk, to provide for varied movement of the tap relative to the shoe to produce difierent sound .etfects.

References Cited ill] the .file :of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

